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Tag Archives: EP19

Tropical Depression Nineteen-E formed over the Gulf of California on Wednesday morning. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Depression Nineteen-E was located at latitude 26.3°N and longitude 110.9°W which put it about 35 miles (55 km) northeast of Loreto, Mexico. It was moving toward the north at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.

The circulation of Tropical Depression Nineteen-E was still organizing . There was a cluster of thunderstorms near the center of circulation. Most of the stronger storms were east of the center. Several short bands of showers and thunderstorms were beginning to develop north and south of the center of circulation. Storms near the center were generating some upper level divergence which was pumping mass away to the northeast of the depression.

Tropical Depression Nineteen-E will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. The water in the Gulf of California is very warm and the depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 31°C. An upper level trough west of California will produce southwesterly winds which will cause moderate vertical wind shear. Tropical Depression Nineteen-E could intensify during the next 12 hours and it has a chance to become a tropical storm.

The upper level trough west of California will steer Tropical Depression Nineteen-E toward the north-northeast. On its anticipated track the depression will reach the west coast of Mexico near Guaymas in about 12 hours. It could be a tropical storm when it reaches the coast. It will bring some gusty winds, but locally heavy rain is the greatest risk. There is the potential for flash floods in parts of Sinaloa, Sonora and Chihuahua. The lower portion of Tropical Depression Nineteen will weaken quickly after it makes landfall and moves over mountains in western Mexico. The upper portion of the circulation and some of the moist air will be transported farther northeast and the remnants of the circulation could enhance rainfall farther inland.

Tropical Storm Ramon formed south of Mexico on Wednesday morning. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Ramon was located at latitude 14.9°N and longitude 96.5°W which put it about 55 miles (90 km) south of Puerto Angel, Mexico. Ramon was moving toward the west-northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

The government of Mexico has issued a Tropical Storm Watch that is in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Angel to Acapulco.

The circulation of Tropical Storm Ramon is not well organized. The distribution of thunderstorms is asymmetrical. Most of the showers and thunderstorms are occurring in the western half of the circulation. A large upper level ridge centered over the Western Gulf of Mexico is producing easterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation. Those winds are generating significant vertical wind shear and the shear is probably the reason for the asymmetrical distribution of thunderstorms.

Tropical Storm Ramon will move through an environment that will be mostly unfavorable for intensification. Ramon will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C. So, there is enough energy in the upper ocean to support intensification. However, the upper level ridge will continue to cause significant vertical wind shear, which will inhibit strengthening. In addition Tropical Storm Ramon will move close to the coast of Mexico and interaction with land will further inhibit intensification. If Tropical Storm Ramon survives the strong shear until it moves farther away from Mexico, then it might strengthen. If Ramon moves closer to the coast or inland, then it is likely to weaken quickly.

Tropical Storm Ramon is moving south of a ridge which is steering it toward the west-northwest and that motion is expected to continue for the next day or two. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Ramon could pass very close to the coast of Mexico, which is why the Tropical Storm Watch was issued. Even if the center of Ramon remains south of the coast, the northern part of the circulation could produce locally heavy rain and the potential for flash floods exists.

Hurricane Olaf intensified rapidly on Monday and it reached Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Olaf was located at latitude 10.1°N and longitude 139.5°W which put it about 1235 miles (1985 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Olaf was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 140 m.p.h. (220 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 165 m.p.h. (270 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 949 mb.

Olaf is a small but well organized hurricane. The core is very symmetrical. Hurricane Olaf has a clear eye with a diameter of about 12 miles (19 km/h) and the eye is surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms. Several spiral rainbands are rotating around the inner core of the hurricane. Upper level outflow channels to the northeast and southwest of Olaf are carrying mass away from the center of circulation, which is allowing the surface pressure to decrease.

Hurricane Olaf is moving just south of a band of stronger upper level westerly winds. It is in an area of modest vertical wind shear. The ocean beneath Hurricane Olaf has Sea Surface Temperatures near 29°C. The compact structure of Olaf allowed the hurricane to efficiently convert energy it extracted from the ocean to kinetic energy associated with higher wind speeds. Olaf could remain in a favorable environment for another day or two, which may allow for further intensification. However, if eyewall replacement cycles begin to occur, they will cause fluctuations in the intensity of Hurricane Olaf.

A subtropical ridge north of Olaf is steering the hurricane toward the west and that general steering motion is expected to continue for another day or two. The western end of the subtropical ridge is expected to weaken later this week and that should allow Olaf to turn toward the north. On its anticipated track, Olaf would turn toward the north before it reaches the Hawaiian Islands.

The core of the circulation of Olaf consolidated on Sunday and the National Hurricane Center upgraded it to a hurricane. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Olaf was located at latitude 9.5°N and longitude 133.2°W which put it about 1620 miles (2610 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Olaf was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (155 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 989 mb.

The circulation of Hurricane Olaf consists of a small core of thunderstorms around the center of circulation and a primary rainband that spirals around the western and southern sides of the hurricane. The core of thunderstorms is producing some upper level divergence, but upper level winds are inhibiting the outflow on the western side of the center.

Hurricane Olaf is moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C and there is plenty of energy in the upper ocean to support intensification. However, an upper level trough north of Olaf is producing westerly winds which are blowing over the top of the hurricane. The upper level winds are blocking upper level outflow on the western side of Olaf and the vertical wind shear is inhibiting the intensification of Olaf. If the wind shear decreases, then further intensification will be possible.

A subtropical ridge is steering Hurricane Olaf toward the west and that general motion is expected to continue for another day or two. When Olaf reaches the western end of the ridge, it will start to turn more toward the north.